Claim to Fame

Zane is owner and operator of Zane's Hardware, a local hardware store known for doing absolutely the best it can for all of its customers. He also coaches a little-league baseball team, teaches Sunday school at his church and is the neighborhood nice guy. Oh, and there was that one time where his pregnant wife was killed by a vampire. He doesn't bring that up often, though. Currently his friends, family and neighbors are attempting to talk him into politics. Zane Wright for Mayor!

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Biography

Lois and Dan Wright's eldest child, Zane, was born and bred in Dallas. Just a few short years later his little sister, Claudia, joined the family. They were everything that could be expected out of the average American family. Dan worked hard to ensure a great life for his family. Lois was a stay at home mother who kept the house spotless, had dinner on the table every evening and was able to easily keep an eye on her two children. They even had a golden retriever as a pet. The children always played well with each other and never got into trouble intentionally. In fact, Zane was always the overbearing and overprotective older brother.

Zane's youth was average and almost boring, even if he wouldn't think so at the time. He was brought up right by his parents and was the epitome of a Southern Gentleman. Throughout high school he played on the football and baseball teams. He was interested in and spent a lot of time in Shop class. He even had a girlfriend named Denae. The two were as close as teenagers can be and were convinced that they would grow old together. Yet as graduation approached they realized that their lives would take them in two completely different directions; Zane to the Army and Denae to college.

Despite the fact that they were apart, the two remained together past graduation. Their main method of communication was through letters although they did speak on the phone whenever possible. During his time in the military, Zane was moved all around the country. He never saw active battle but was never afraid to do so. He also continued to learn to use his hands, being trained as an electrician.

Upon the completion of his four years in the Army, Zane decided to fall back to the reserves and return home. Everything was exactly as he remembered it and it made him swear to never leave again. Readjusting wasn't quite as easy as even though he had money saved up from being in the military he knew he had to find a job. The search went poorly at first until one day he happened upon the local hardware store. The owner was elderly and going out of business. With some help from his family and the banks, Zane purchased the store and decided to run it himself. Instead of using the store to promote his ability to use his hands, he used the skills he learned to help promote the store.

Knowing that he couldn't do it alone and wishing to give back to the community that gave so much to him, Zane decided to bring on as many employees as he possibly could. Unlike the former owner he wasn't about to run everything himself. He did, however, maintain things fully during the day. For the afternoon and evening hours he hired high school students, wishing to not only give them an opportunity to make money but also to learn respect and possibly a new craft. The only other full time employee brought on staff was none other than Denae. Fresh out of college with an Accounting degree, she was put in charge of his books.

Life continued like this for quite some time. Zane wanted nothing more to settle down and start a family with the love of his life but he wanted to make sure that they would be financially secure before he rushed into anything. Denae, for her part, was willing to wait on him for as long as possible. It took him quite a while to propose as certain things had to be done first. The ring was purchased and so was a plot of land. Slowly he worked on it as he could, sometimes with help, building a house that would be perfect to raise a family in. As the house neared completion he finally proposed to her and it didn't take much longer for them to be wed.

For the first few years of marriage they were content to live with just themselves. The happy couple kept themselves busy by volunteering for the community when they weren't working at the hardware store. Zane sponsored a little league baseball team and even coached it. Denae became extremely active within the church and would have a hand in most of their events. To the rest of the community they were basically the perfect couple. They seemed to be completely open with nothing to hide.

As they neared the age of thirty they finally decided to attempt to have children. It was a dream for both of them and they were in quite the position to provide for a family. Unlike everything else in their lives, however, having children did not come easy. They did everything that they could with no luck. It took nearly four years and a loss of hope before Denae eventually became pregnant. Even if it was unplanned when it happened it became the happiest moment of their lives and the parents to be did everything they could to prepare.

It was discovered during the pregnancy that the child was to be a little girl. Never was Zane so proud and excited as he was that day. The room that was to be for the baby, whom they decided would be named Rebecca, was immediately painted in shades of pink. It was filled with everything that the newborn would need. The Wright's were prepared.

However, the room was never to be utilized. On her way home from a church meeting, Denae was attacked. After she didn't return home that evening Zane immediately went to the police and began to search on his own. The next day her body was found, her blood nearly completely drained. Zane was beyond crushed and nearly killed himself in the next few days, unable to cope with the fact that his family was taken from him just like that. It was an extremely difficult time but it was then that the community came out to support him as he had supported them for so long. Funeral arrangements were made and everything was donated; it isn't that he couldn't afford the expenses but they weren't about to allow him to feel any more of a burden. The store was tended to while he recovered and the church opened their arms to him as much as possible.

Zane never fully recovered but he did return to the life he had built. It was difficult but eventually he appeared to be functioning well. He still ran the store, coached the team and made appearances regularly at the church. Not too long after was when the existence of vampires became public. It wasn't hard for him to know what happened to his family and he soon took a strong stance against the evil creatures. This is how he came to join the Friends of Humanity and become such a strong voice for them. Even if he didn't make waves with the media on his stance he never shied away from letting anyone know how he felt.

In recent times with all the news that vampires have made, the community has once more reached out for and to Zane. They lean on him and agree with him, and have begged him to run against Mayor McNaab. Currently Zane is living his life as best he can, attempting to decide if he really and truly wishes to make such a decision. Currently he's leaning towards yes, but surely he stands no chance.

Character Details

Stoic yet friendly, strong yet emotional, Zane is a man of the community. He's the shoulder to cry on whenever times are tough, the man to help fix things that you need help with and also the man who is not afraid to admit that he needs a shoulder himself. He has a great pride in life, his community and his country. He is extremely practiced and patient, especially due to his time in the military. Everyone else is put first yet he still takes care of himself quite well. It's no surprise that he has an immense hatred for vampires. If he had his way they would be quarantined, allowing his community to live free and safe once more. With his family now gone, he does his best to be a voice of the people and look out for all that he can. Internally he is devastated and alone. He wishes to try to move on with his life but is afraid of disrespecting the memories of his family.

Woodworking

This isn't a skill he went to school for but has practiced all of his life. Zane is far from an expert but can still be handy enough to do small projects whenever he needs to.

Electrician

The military trained Zane to be an electrician. He never followed up with further training once he returned home but knows enough to be able to do whatever he needs done.

Shooting

As much as he refuses to actually harm someone unless he has to, Zane has been well trained in the art of guns due to his time in the army. He respects them and indeed owns them. While he never has them around children or anywhere they can be seen, he keeps them for protection.

Hardware Store

This is not so much of a skill as it is a resource. Zane owns and operates his own business which allows him to help out the community even more. As much as he seems aloof or even overly generous in his dealings, he actually has a fairly decent business sense and is quite successful.

Community Backing

Zane is a man of the community. They respect him just as much as he respects them. It is with their support that he's deciding to run against Mayor McNaab in the next election.

Bookkeeping

Quite simply put, he's horrible at it. Denae took care of all of the books and he still hasn't learned to do so accurately since her death. He's currently seeking someone to take her place in the business.

Love of Alcohol

This is something that he keeps well hidden. Since the death of his wife, Zane has started to turn to the bottle. It's not enough to disrupt his life, yet, but the habit needs to be broken.

Lonely

It's been years since he lost his family. The man is lonely, no matter how much time he spends with the community. There's a desire to find someone else, but he's torn over disrespecting the memory of Denae.

Hatred of Vampires

It runs deep. Too deep. This is what fuels his actions most times and is the very reason that his community has asked him to run against McNaab. He would have no issue ending the unlife of any of the evil creatures of darkness.

Relationships

Name

Race

Relation

Notes

Dan Wright

Human

Father

NPC. Dan and Zane have a strong relationship and speak to each other often. Dan is a good deal of the inspiration for Zane to be who he is.

Lois Wright

Human

Mother

NPC. Lois and Zane also have a strong relationship. She's been a key figure in his life since the death of Denae. She's the one who brought him up right.

Claudia Wright

Human

Baby Sister

NPC. Zane and Claudia don't always see eye to eye. In fact, they at times can be completely different. But they're still as close as siblings can be.

Denae Wright

Human

Wife

NPC - Deceased. She was the love of Zane's life and carrying his child when she was killed by a vampire.